Tobacco subtopics

Tobacco key resources

Prevalence

About 15% of all Australians over the age of 18 smoke [33725][29610]. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, this figure is much higher, with over 30% of the population above the age of 15 being current daily smokers [31278].

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in rural and remote areas who are smokers is also much higher than those living in urban areas, almost 50% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote areas are smokers [31278].

Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women smoke, however trends show that more men smoke than women [31278].

Recently, the biggest reductions in smoking have been seen in the younger age groups, which has dropped in the last ten years by a significant amount [31278].

Key surveys containing information on prevalence of tobacco use are: the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social survey (NATSISS), the National drug strategy household survey (NDSHS) and the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health survey (AATSIHS) which can be found under publications in this section [34600][33725][26737]. For a summary of statistical information updated yearly on tobacco use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, see also our latest Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status.

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